Wyoming scholarships available for National Main Streets Conference in Baltimore

As we've discussed at length here, Wyoming's downtowns have launched some innovative projects. I think of downtown Cheyenne's LightsOn! project and the arts-based redevelopment launched by Casper. There is the renovated Rock Springs downtown theatre, the roundhouse project in Evanston, the "living upstairs in downtown" program in Sheridan, and so on. But much more needs to be done. You can't have a great city or town without a thriving downtown. The Wyoming Main Street Program is leading the way. It is offering scholarships to the national conference:

The Wyoming Main Street Program is offering travel scholarships to a conference that will help participants revitalize and build vibrant commercial districts in Wyoming’s downtowns. Several scholarships are available for the National Main Streets Conference in Baltimore, Md., April 1-4, 2012. The trip includes a Wyoming Main Street sponsored pre-trip to Maryland and Delaware, March 29-31, to learn how Main Street principles are being applied in other communities. 

The conference brings together people from communities of all sizes to network, discuss issues, and learn new ideas and solutions for growing and developing downtown revitalization programs. This year’s conference will focus on taking Main Street to the next level by continuing to grow support, economic strength, and the national movement. The scholarships cover airfare to and from an applicant’s nearest airport and Baltimore, conference registration fees, and lodging during the pre-trip and conference. 

Scholarship applications are due to Wyoming Main Street no later than Feb. 3, 2012. Application packets must include a completed application form. Scholarships will only be offered to individuals who are residents of a Wyoming municipality and associated with, or supported by, one of the following organizations: local government, downtown association or its equivalent, downtown merchants association, urban renewal authority, downtown development authority, chamber of commerce, historic preservation organization, or other community organizations intended to revitalize a historic downtown. 

Notification of scholarship awards will be made from the Wyoming Main Street staff on or around Feb. 15, 2012. Recipients are asked to give a report to their local city/town council as well as the Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board about the information learned on the trip and how it will help their community. 

For more information, contact Wyoming Main Street Specialist Scott Wisniewski at 307.777.2934 or scott.w@wyo.gov. 

The Wyoming Main Street Program is dedicated to providing Wyoming communities with opportunities to strengthen local pride and revitalize historic downtown districts by utilizing the Main Street Four Point Approach. This approach means Wyoming Main Street strives to help downtown business owners improve the appearance of downtowns, build cooperation between downtown groups, help downtowns market their unique qualities and strengthen the economic base of downtown.

Applications available here. For information, contact Kim Kittel at 307.287.2170 or kim.kittel@wyo.gov.

Once again, Wyoming teen suicide in the news

Once again, Wyoming teen suicide is in the news. This time, it's the death of 13-year-old Alex Frye of Cheyenne. His death on New Year's Day is getting plenty of attention in the local media -- and elsewhere. There is much talk about the alleged cause -- bullying at school. The school district seems to be doing its part of bringing up the topic and providing counselors for students and teachers at Alex's school, Carey Junior High. According to last night's Channel 5 newscast, the Cheyenne Police Department is adding a position to address suicide prevention. There's a fine local organization, Grace for 2 Brothers which offers “suicide prevention through awareness and education.”

Still, the beat goes on. Wyoming has among the highest teen suicide stats in the nation. Some of that is due to isolation and rough weather and lack of opportunity. Some of that is due to bullying, although it's unclear how much. It is clear that bullies beget bullies, and until this is addressed, bullying will continue to lead to both the mental and physical scarring of vulnerable youth.

Some of Wyoming’s cluelessness about suicide can be blamed on Wyoming's "cowboy up" mentality, which can be summed up this way: "Cowboy up!" Be tough. Shake it off. Get back on that horse. None of which helps much when it comes to assisting someone in pain.

I refer you to Tom Morton's excellent Casper Star-Tribune column from Oct. 26. He focused on the lethal nature of suicide by gun. Guns are very popular in Wyoming, and a popular (and very final) way to commit suicide. He noted that U.S. suicide stats -- 39th in the world -- are not particularly alarming. But, "if Wyoming's rate of 20.0 suicides per 100,000 population was compared to the worldwide rates, Wyoming would rank about 10th." Read more here. 

This comes from a 2010 article in the WTE:

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Wyoming youth, said Keith Hotle, a suicide prevention team leader with the Wyoming Department of Health. Only car crashes kill more teens. 

If a new disease was the second-leading cause of death for youth, that would be front page news all over the state," he said. 

But it isn't. Those headlines arrive only with each new suicide by a Wyoming youth. And they appear with great regularity, much to our shame.

Rest in peace, Alex Frye. We will remember you.

Cheyenne NAACP and Occupy Cheyenne search for common ground

The next meeting of the NAACP Unit #4108 is scheduled for Monday, January 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in the Sunflower Room of the Laramie County Public Library in downtown Cheyenne.  The meeting will focus on finalizing events and activities for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 16 and February’s Black History Month.


NAACP members are invited to General Assembly meeting sponsored by Occupy Cheyenne on Thursday, Jan. 5, 5:30-7 p.m., at the Paramount Cafe, 1607 Capitol Ave., in downtown Cheyenne. We have common ground in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, philosophy of nonviolent protests against the powers and principalities that join forces to keep us all down. More info at Occupy Cheyenne on Facebook.

Help wanted: Wyoming Democratic Party

Something is happening on the Wyoming Democratic Party web site (and it's about time):

Field Director: The Wyoming Democratic Party is currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Field Director (currently funded under the Democratic National Committee's State Party Partnership Program). A complete job description and application information is located here: Field Director Job Description.
 Compliance Director:  The Wyoming Democratic Party is currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Compliance Director (currently partially funded under the Democratic National Committee's State Party Partnership Program). The Compliance Director is the staff member responsible for working with the Executive Director and others to oversee all aspects of the WDP’s compliance with applicable state and federal laws.  A complete job description and application information is located here: Compliance Director Job Description.
 Internships:  The Wyoming Democratic Party is offering internship opportunities for students. These are unpaid internships, and would require 10 to 20 hours per week (we are willing to be flexible as a student's schedule requires). Some of the duties will include researching, recruiting volunteers, phone banking, attending community events, networking with other organizations, and organizing events in the community. This is a great way to get political experience and make long-time professional contacts. For more information, contact Dana Walton at (307) 258-1825 or dana@wyomingdemocrats.com.

Poet and Army vet Brian Turner: Dialogue needed between U.S. vets and Iraqi artists

I read Brian Turner’s first poetry book, “Here, Bullet,” when it came out in 2005 from Alice James Books. Amazing poems from a witness to the war, one who arrived at the front possessing an MFA in creative writing.

We haven’t seen a huge amount of war poetry coming out of Iraq. It’s a mere trickle when compared to the U.S. poetry shaped by Vietnam. It’s early yet – the war only ended last week, officially. You can start with Turner’s work:

Earlier this year, Brian Turner went back to Baghdad as an Army veteran who also happens to be a writer. Turner served as an infantry team leader with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat team in 2003 and 2004, an experience that informs his award-winning book of poetry “Here, Bullet.” Iraq also features in his latest book, “Phantom Noise.” 

He believes now that the war is officially over, there needs to be a new dialogue between the two countries, especially between U.S. vets and Iraqi artists. 

“I was able to meet some Iraqi poets and painters, and they’re sort of waiting,” Turner told Here & Now's Robin Young. “They see the guns and the tanks and helicopters come, and they’re wondering where is another part of the conversation, more of a dialogue in art, that kind of constructive conversation. So if anybody is interested in that, I would encourage them to not sit by the sidelines and not get involved. They’re waiting for us.”

Hear a WBUR radio interview and Turner reading one of his poems at http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2011/12/22/poet-iraq-turner

Moving sale this week at downtown Cheyenne's Link Gallery

Cheyenne loses an art gallery, gains yet another empty storefront:

The owners of the LINK GALLERY, 124 W. Lincolnway in Cheyenne, are moving to Austin, Texas, one of America's most exciting cities, so they are having a sale. Prices are 20-40% off most paintings and prints through January 7. Mon-Sat 10:30 am – 5 pm. FMI: 307-778-0330. On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Link-Gallery/50875219291?sk=info

The great big hole in Cheyenne's downtown makes for a hole in its soul

Ball drops at the Depot Plaza on New Year's Eve, causing all of us to think good thoughts about downtown Cheyenne's future.

After two years of railing against Wyoming's woeful public education system, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle editorial staff is shifting its focus.

It's time to kick Cheyenne in the ass.

The city is "mired in the doldrums and doing little to find its way out." It has "lost its desire to chase after pre-eminence." Cheyenne needs to "recapture the vision of being a great city."

Most shocking of all, the WTE has discovered that there is a a great big hole in the middle of downtown. It's not a metaphoric hole, either, but a very real one.

The downtown hole is a manifestation of Cheyenne's lack of vision. I recently asked the question of whether any other city of Cheyenne's size would tolerate a mega-hole to exist at its city center for seven years. A gas explosion leveled almost a city block in downtown Bozeman two years ago. The hole was filled in short order followed by rebuilding. Downtown Deadwood was able to fill its downtown hole (an old mine) with businesses and now has a bustling economy. Many other Rocky Mountain cities have faced explosions and blights and economic downturns. They have come up with viable plans to enliven their downtowns. 

My wife Chris and I went to the downtown New Year's Eve festivities last night. It was great to see so many people downtown. That rarely happens outside of Cheyenne Frontier Days or summer's Friday night concert series. Art Design & Dine has brought some life to downtown each second Thursday but it's still struggling to catch on after two years. Unfortunately, one of the participating AD&D galleries soon will be closing.

WTE identifies what it missing from downtown development: "visionary thinking and risk-taking." We've seen visionary thinking exhibited in the LightsOn! Project at the Hynds Building, which hosted a rocking party last night. We're also seeing some of that with the Dinneen Building and the accompanying screetscaping. Much more is needed.  

I'm with the WTE on this one. They plan to fill their op-ed pages to calls for an end to the miasma that had led to status as a second-rate city of the West.

I'll be reading.

As you might expect, there are some bright spots in Cheyenne's present. We'll talk about those too...

Who is the mystery man from Ten Sleep arrested at Occupy the (Iowa) Caucuses?

Rachel Maddow muses in this MSNBC clip about the Occupy the (Iowa) Caucuses protester arrested at Mitt Romney HQ and whose hometown is listed as Ten Sleep, Wyoming. Since musicians were featured at the occupation, and one of them looked suspiciously like Jalan "This Banjo Kills Facists" Crossland of Ten Sleep, we think that this mystery man is indeed the man who gave us "Don't Taze Me, Bro'" What say you, dear readers?

First Occupy Cheyenne GA of the new year Jan. 5 at Paramount Cafe

We got the nod from Leah Z that we can hold the next Occupy Cheyenne General Assembly at the Paramount Cafe, 1607 Capitol Ave., on Thursday, Jan. 5, 5:30-7 p.m. Bring some dough to buy an idea-enhancing coffee. Agenda items include plans for January actions, a protest at the Capitol when the Legislature convenes in February, and ideas about participating in the regional Occupy GA in Boulder, Colo., Feb. 18-19. Agenda will be up and running in a few days on the Occupy Cheyenne Facebook page for additions and subtractions. Happy New Year, Occupiers! Looking for full equality in The Equality State in 2012!

This Is Why We Fight: Progressive blogging, from the pulpit to the streets

Video production by eninaoj

I was listening to The Decembrists’ “The King is Dead” for the umpteenth time when “This is Why We Fight” got stuck in my head. Why do we fight, we progressive bloggers here in Wyoming? I sort of knew why I fight but I wasn’t sure about the rest of our ragged little band. So I came up with a few questions that I sent to some of the consistent bloggers on the “WY Progressives” blogroll (see right sidebar). First up is Rodger McDaniel, founder, writer and editor of Blowing in the Wyoming Wind.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.

A: I was born on January 10, 2011 when I retired from the State of Wyoming and became free to blog about issues that matter. In another life I served 10 years in the legislature, was the Democratic Party nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1982, practiced law for 18 years and, in the Freudenthal administration, I was the director of the Department of Family Services and head of the state's mental health and substance abuse programs. Currently I am a preacher, a grandfather, and a blogger.

Q: Why do you blog?

A: I blog because I can. I realize there are many people who because of their jobs or other reasons are not free to speak out. I am and enjoy doing so. I don't have to worry about getting elected or being fired.

Q: Any predictions for 2012?

A: Obama will be the only winner in the GOP primaries. One of the GOP candidates will tell the truth about something (I have no way to predict who it will be but more likely Ron Paul than Michelle Bachmann). The U.S. Supreme Court will uphold the Affordable Care Act and find state laws prohibiting same-sex marriage to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution. One war will end and at least one more will start. The Wyoming Legislature will provide even more fodder for outlaw bloggers. I will finish writing my book on Lester Hunt's life. (Not so sure about that last one!)

Q: What's your favorite song, whether it's from 2011 or from some other year?

A: My music development was arrested in my disc jockey days. Therefore it is a Beatles song "In My Life."

Rodger McDaniel: From the altar...

....to the streets, with Occupy Cheyenne.

Writer Rebecca Solnit maps Laramie and then occupies the world

Yup’ik Elder Esther Green occupies the river

Read this beautiful essay by California writer Rebecca Solnit on the CBS News site. You may remember Rebecca from her residency at the University of Wyoming creative writing program earlier this year. She and her students conducted a community mapping project, “Laramie: A Gem City Atlas,” with the results exhibited at the UW Art Museum in May and June. They were occupying Laramie before Occupy Laramie sprang up this fall. Read a Casper Star-Tribune story about the community mapping project here.

Laramie native Robin Van Ausdall named new executive director of Wyoming Democratic Party

Jeremy Pelzer reports this in today's Casper Star-Tribune:

Wyoming Democrats have selected Colorado political consultant Robin Van Ausdall as their new executive director, according to her and other party officials. 

Van Ausdall, who was born in Laramie, is a political veteran, serving as campaign manager for David Canter’s unsuccessful bid against U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., in 2010 and as the Democratic National Committee’s field organizer for northeast Colorado from 2005 through 2008. She was Andrew Romanoff’s caucus director in his unsuccessful 2010 Colorado Senate bid. Most recently, she ran a Denver school board campaign and operates a karaoke and DJ service in Fort Collins, Colo., Van Ausdall said.   

Kyle DeBeer, the party’s interim executive director, said Wednesday a formal announcement will come early next week and that it hasn’t yet been decided when the new executive director will start. 

Democratic sources said Van Ausdall was chosen over Jason Perkey, who ran U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ failed campaign for mayor of Chicago earlier this year. The Wyoming Democrats’ executive director position has been vacant since October, when Bill Luckett left for Oregon after his wife found a job there.

Occupy Fort Collins holds a "Coats, Cans and Cash" fund-raiser Jan. 29 at Avo's

Occupy movements in the Rocky Mountain region are leaving the streets for proactive community involvement. Occupy Fort Collins will be holding a "Coats, Cans and Cash" fund-raiser on Sunday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m., at Avogadro's Number, 605 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, Colo., right down the road from Cheyenne. Fund-raiser for those who actually need clothing and food and cash -- an increasing number of Americans (thanks to the greedy 1%). Performances by GD Money and the Funky Tunk Heroes and DumptruckButterlips. Get more info at the Occupy Fort Collins and Occupy Ft. Collins Facebook pages and at http://www.occupyfortcollins.org. 

Occupy Hip Hop in Colorado Springs a fund-raiser for foreclosure actions

Occupy Colorado Springs is sponsoring this event on Jan. 7 that's a fund-raiser for some of the org's foreclosure actions. This week, the OCS folks are occupying the foreclosure of the house of a 62-year-old leukemia victim. Get more info about Occupy Hip Hop at http://www.facebook.com/events/156851661083815/  

Rep. Gingery's bill proposes much-needed boost in waiver program budget

From the Wyoming Public Media web site:

A Wyoming program that helps the disabled has a long waiting list, but a state bill to be introduced next year could help. 

Jackson representative Keith Gingery (R-Fremont/Teton) is the sponsor of the bill to be introduced during the upcoming legislative session would provide $28 million in state and federal funding for Wyoming's Home and Community Based Waiver Program. The waiver program provides services for people with disabilities. More than 450 people in Wyoming are waiting for adult, child or brain-injury waivers. 

Wyoming expects to spend about $214 million on the waivers over the next two fiscal years, with about half the cost paid with federal dollars. But Gingery said that the funding isn't enough to meet existing demand for the waivers.

This program provides much-needed support to those families challenged with long-term medical care that is usually only partially covered by insurance – if that family is insured at all. Guidelines of the waiver program are outlined here.

Support Rep. Gingery via e-mail at kgingery@wyoming.com

Reboot the Robot performs tonight at Paramount Cafe in downtown Cheyenne

Reboot the Robot (Jon Ware) and Kelsi Rivera will perform an acoustic concert on Wednesday, Dec. 28 (tonight), 6-8 p.m. at the Paramount Café, 1607 Capitol Ave., Cheyenne. This is the newly-opened café’s first event so come on down and support indie music and indie business in downtown Cheyenne. Hear songs by Reboot the Robot at http://www.YouTube.com/RTRmuzac. Find out more about the Paramount Café on its Facebook page.

"Carbon Sink" got all the headlines, but there was much more to Wyoming public art in 2011

The Wyomingarts blog reports that 2011 was a banner year for public art in Wyoming. One of the most notable was Chris Drury's environmental installation "Carbon Sink: What Goes Around, Comes Around." This commissioned piece, made from beetle-kill Wyoming trees and bona fide Wyoming coal, was installed last summer on the University of Wyoming campus and instantly earned the wrath of the state's energy moguls, who think that they own the place. To prove it, at least one Casper-based mogul withheld his annual contribution to the University of Wyoming. Art matters. Sometimes art can cause an entitled fat cat to withhold funding from his alma mater, even during a year when the football team has a winning record and goes to a bowl game! But there was much more to public art in Wyoming this year than "Carbon Sink." Take an art tour of Wyoming at http://wyomingarts.blogspot.com/2011/12/year-in-review-public-art-projects.html

Local artist's domestic violence posters raise funds for Safehouse in Cheyenne

It's dangerous to be a woman in The Equality State. View the entire series of posters by Forrest King, designed to raise funds for  Cheyenne's Safehouse, at http://www.facebook.com/BatteredBrideProject   

WTE Online: CRMC offers psychiatric service through computer

This is a great idea for a rural state (Wyoming) which has high risk factors for suicide, domestic violence and substance abuse -- and one that serves its 580,000 residents with just 30 psychiatrists (one per 19,333 people), most located in cities: CRMC offers psychiatric service through computer -- Wyoming Tribune Eagle Online

UW hosts largest Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration in Wyoming Jan. 16-20

The University of Wyoming in Laramie sponsors the annual Martin Luther King, Jr./Days of Dialogue and March Jan. 16-20. This year's timely theme is "Building Unity Through Community: Local to Global." This week-long celebration of King's legacy of peace and justice is the largest in Wyoming, possibly the region.  

The week's schedule:

Monday, Jan. 16
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: National Service Day

4 p.m.: Martin Luther King, Jr. March beginning at Albany County Courthouse
4:45 p.m.- Willena Stanford Supper at UW Wyoming Union Ballroom. Entertainment provided by WASA and the ARK

Tuesday, Jan. 17
12 noon-1:30 p.m.: ECTL Book Discussion, "On That Day, Everybody Ate: One Woman’s Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti" by Margaret Trost. Registration required at www.uwyo.edu/ctl. At Coe Library, Rm 506. Lunch provided.

12:15-1:30 p.m.: "The Face of Discrimination" panel discussion, Union Family Room
4-6 p.m.: "Build 2020 w/ Molina Speaks" -- hip-hop workshop and performance with Adrian Molina, Union Family Room

Wednesday, Jan. 18
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: "Local to Global" photo exhibit opening, Union Art Gallery 234
3 p.m.: Opening for the "Tunnel of Oppression," Union East Ballroom
8 p.m.: The Players Club – step performance, SAC Event - A & S Auditorium

Thursday, Jan. 19
12:15-1:30 p.m.: "Art Imitates Life" panel discussion, Union West Ballroom
3:30-5 p.m.: Chad Hymas, motivational speaker, Union West Ballroom
7 p.m.: Hill Harper, keynote address, A & S Auditorium

Friday, Jan. 20
12 noon-1 p.m.: Poetry Slam Workshop with Slam Nuba, Union West Ballroom, sponsored by Residence Life & Dining Services
1:15-2:30 p.m.: Poetry Slam Open Mic with Slam Nuba, Union Skylight Lounge, sponsored by Residence Life & Dining Services
6:30 p.m.: "Shadow Ball" movie with talk-back session, Union Family Room, sponsored by Wyoming PBS
9-11:30 p.m.: FNF Movie: "Circumstance," Union Family Room
8:30 p.m.: Lupe Fiasco, hip-hop artist, C&C Event in the A & S Auditorium. Doors open at 8 p.m. UW Student Tickets: $20, non-UW student tickets: $30

More info at http://mlkdod.wordpress.com/